Prayer can change alot of things. I am particularly intrigued by how it can redirect itself. This is done subtly, over time. So if I am not committed to carry a burden, it may be crowded out by interruptions before I ever see it take new shape.
Tonight Traci and I joined a room full of past team members to hear Matt and Michelle talk about the kids they work with in the orphanage. We had a powerful time of prayer for our E. Asia GlobalX partners, their family, local staff and the children they serve. As people prayed in circles all over the room, a prayer was lifted up that redirected my thinking. Danny prayed for the few to take the message to many. Let me explain. The orphanage classrooms in which our friends work are for children with disabilities. There are many children living in the government run orphanage. But only a select few are allowed to take part in Christian classroom environment. The ones who do get to go, learn to laugh and sing, care for themselves, even walk. So when Danny prayed for the kids tonight, he prayed that these few who are learning about the love of Christ would not only find healing, but would take that light back into the dark, quiet halls of the orphanage. I have spent time with several of these kids. I have received their smiles and joined in their laughter. And I have no doubt God can bring healing to their hearts and they will share the love of Christ with other hurting kids who may never get out. As we prayed, I could envision smiles, laughter, brightness spreading through the gloomy halls filling the rooms full of bedridden children.
Isn't that powerful? These kids can share the love of Christ with other children whom none of us will ever see.
Here is how my thinking was redirected. As we were praying, I was struck with the reality of heaven being our home. All this is temporary and short lived. Most of these kids will never get out. The hope is that a few will be adopted. But there also has to be the hope that healing will take place right where they are. Can you imagine being one of these kids and reading Romans 8:18? Heaven is their hope. Jesus is their future.
I have carried a burden for one of these kids for a year and a half. We call him Israel. What I want for him is a home, a place where he can heal, love and be loved. The day I met him, I knew God had a reason for it. I have to admit that since God gave me the burden, I thought this boy would have a home by now. When I go back in April, it will be my third visit to his orphanage. And he will still be there. I get frustrated that I haven't found a family who would want him; that God hasn't raised up a family. He's such an awesome kid. I've told everyone I know about him. This past year I have heard stories of how he picks out clothes for some of the less mobile kids. He wants them all to match. When the teachers are on holiday, he marks the days on the calendar so the mentally disabled kids can get a grasp on when they will go back to school. He is a caring boy. And it hurts my hurt that he cannot experience the warmth of a loving home. But over time, as I pray for Israel, God has shown me that healing can take place right where he is because there are local believers who speak his language who teach him every day.
I still hope Israel finds a home. But now I pray God will heal him right where he is; all of his scars of being unwanted and memories of abandonment. I pray he will continue to carry hope to the kids around him. I pray he will receive Christ as his Savior and that the joy of the Lord will be his strength.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
This is Why I'm Going
You guys all know how much I love a certain East Asia country and how Danny, Noah and I have served there together the past two summers. My life has not been the same since that first trip. God is teaching me a lot about Himself through missions and I am eager to keep learning. Most of you also know how I dream of taking the whole family to serve in the orphanage. Don’t worry, I’m not about to ask you to fund that trip. That will be another year! ☺
What I want to tell you is that I have been invited back this spring for a different kind of trip. I will go through North Point Ministries’ Globalx Missions with 5 other women to focus on prayer and intercession. Please take a minute to read about the details of this trip and what your involvement would mean.
Our first stop will be the city and orphanage you helped send me to the last two summers. We will connect with the believers who spend their lives loving the forgotten. We will be praying and looking into God’s Word with the staff. We will pray over the children and facilities. We will pray through the streets and community. Why are we doing this? These “underground” believers are our brothers and sisters in Christ. NP/GlobalX supports them financially. We want to encourage them personally and learn how we can serve them as we strive to support them spiritually as well.
Our next stop will be to an area still feeling the effects of a natural disaster. We have partners here who are helping to rebuild lives. We will connect with student and community ministries to help plan prayer and discipleship strategies for the upcoming school year. One great aspect of this portion of the trip is that, upon our return, we will be sharing what we learn with our church and student ministries in the States. The goal is to connect believers on different continents through an ongoing prayer movement.
There are two very important reasons I am asking you to support this trip with your dollars and prayers. Two of the women on our team spent six years serving in missions in other countries. They tell me how vital it was to have people support them by taking time out of their lives to come all the way across the world to serve and encourage them. Can you imagine being tired and lonely and wondering if your work is bearing any fruit? If anyone back home remembers where you are? I know it would make a difference to me if people came to pray for me, listen to me, love me. I want to play a small part in showing believers in EA that people in America love and care about them and their work in that country.
The other reason I am asking for your involvement is because of the power in prayer. There is something very real that takes place in the spiritual realm when we physically step into the country for which we are praying. Prayer is such a mystery. It shakes loose strongholds in dark places like nothing else can. When I have been to E. Asia in the past and seen with my own eyes the work being done, clasped hands in prayer with people whose words I cannot decipher but whose heart I understand, God’s power is alive and active. Prayer is that “thing” that connects us. My eyes are opened, my heart is stirred by what stirs the heart of God. I am moved with passion for people I’ve just met. Together we pray differently and strive to see God’s Kingdom advanced. It’s the coolest thing! Don’t you want to go with me??? Please pray about giving to what God is doing in this part of the world. Your involvement is such an important part of this trip!
Here are some details:
*Travel dates are April 1st through April 11th.
*The trip itinerary covers three cities in EA that I will gladly tell you about in person. As you are probably aware, it is a restricted area so I cannot list those destinations here.
*I need raise $3,200 to cover 10 nights and 7 flights.
*You can mail a check to me written to North Point Ministries and write EA Connection Cindy Stephens in the FOR space.
* You can give here. When giving on-line, please choose the East Asia Connection Trip 4/1 – 4/11. There will be a place for you to type in my name.
I will keep you updated with photos and names of our team members and our prayer needs on the trip. Thank you so much for taking time to read this letter and consider being a part of this mission.
What I want to tell you is that I have been invited back this spring for a different kind of trip. I will go through North Point Ministries’ Globalx Missions with 5 other women to focus on prayer and intercession. Please take a minute to read about the details of this trip and what your involvement would mean.
Our first stop will be the city and orphanage you helped send me to the last two summers. We will connect with the believers who spend their lives loving the forgotten. We will be praying and looking into God’s Word with the staff. We will pray over the children and facilities. We will pray through the streets and community. Why are we doing this? These “underground” believers are our brothers and sisters in Christ. NP/GlobalX supports them financially. We want to encourage them personally and learn how we can serve them as we strive to support them spiritually as well.
Our next stop will be to an area still feeling the effects of a natural disaster. We have partners here who are helping to rebuild lives. We will connect with student and community ministries to help plan prayer and discipleship strategies for the upcoming school year. One great aspect of this portion of the trip is that, upon our return, we will be sharing what we learn with our church and student ministries in the States. The goal is to connect believers on different continents through an ongoing prayer movement.
There are two very important reasons I am asking you to support this trip with your dollars and prayers. Two of the women on our team spent six years serving in missions in other countries. They tell me how vital it was to have people support them by taking time out of their lives to come all the way across the world to serve and encourage them. Can you imagine being tired and lonely and wondering if your work is bearing any fruit? If anyone back home remembers where you are? I know it would make a difference to me if people came to pray for me, listen to me, love me. I want to play a small part in showing believers in EA that people in America love and care about them and their work in that country.
The other reason I am asking for your involvement is because of the power in prayer. There is something very real that takes place in the spiritual realm when we physically step into the country for which we are praying. Prayer is such a mystery. It shakes loose strongholds in dark places like nothing else can. When I have been to E. Asia in the past and seen with my own eyes the work being done, clasped hands in prayer with people whose words I cannot decipher but whose heart I understand, God’s power is alive and active. Prayer is that “thing” that connects us. My eyes are opened, my heart is stirred by what stirs the heart of God. I am moved with passion for people I’ve just met. Together we pray differently and strive to see God’s Kingdom advanced. It’s the coolest thing! Don’t you want to go with me??? Please pray about giving to what God is doing in this part of the world. Your involvement is such an important part of this trip!
Here are some details:
*Travel dates are April 1st through April 11th.
*The trip itinerary covers three cities in EA that I will gladly tell you about in person. As you are probably aware, it is a restricted area so I cannot list those destinations here.
*I need raise $3,200 to cover 10 nights and 7 flights.
*You can mail a check to me written to North Point Ministries and write EA Connection Cindy Stephens in the FOR space.
* You can give here. When giving on-line, please choose the East Asia Connection Trip 4/1 – 4/11. There will be a place for you to type in my name.
I will keep you updated with photos and names of our team members and our prayer needs on the trip. Thank you so much for taking time to read this letter and consider being a part of this mission.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What to Say
"I was very much led out in prayer for these people right from the beginning. Something seemed to draw me to them." But at the time, he said nothing about it... These are the words of James Fraser. He devoted his life to a people he had never previously seen.
When I read these words, they struck a chord. "He said nothing about it." I often don't know what to say about my love for the East Asia country I am soon to visit. Most people don't get it. What's more, I don't know how exactly to describe this trip. What I am sure of is that moment around 1:00 am when I was praying and God told me to go again this year.
It's easy to write about things I know of, especially if it is something for which I am passionate. But here stirs a passion and I don't fully understand where God is going to take it. I am excited about what He will show me, how he will change me through it and what I will learn about Him in the process. So, for now, I guess that is enough.
When I read these words, they struck a chord. "He said nothing about it." I often don't know what to say about my love for the East Asia country I am soon to visit. Most people don't get it. What's more, I don't know how exactly to describe this trip. What I am sure of is that moment around 1:00 am when I was praying and God told me to go again this year.
It's easy to write about things I know of, especially if it is something for which I am passionate. But here stirs a passion and I don't fully understand where God is going to take it. I am excited about what He will show me, how he will change me through it and what I will learn about Him in the process. So, for now, I guess that is enough.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Pick Me! Pick Me!
One of my good friends is giving me the opportunity to be part of a Globalx team to East Asia this spring. Today our team of six women will meet together. We all know each other. Most of us are already friends. This trip will be not be to work at the orphanage that Danny, Noah and I went to the the last two years. However, I believe I will be able to see friends there.
This trip will focus on our partners in EA, praying for them, listening to them, assisting them in planning for their upcoming work. I know God is going to teach me something powerful about prayer this year. My first response to this prayer trip was, "We can pray right here! Why would we go half way around the world to pray? Shouldn't we be working?" The immediate response to my question didn't come from me. "Am I not the One doing the work?" Wow!
I know the answer lies largely in the untapped power of believing prayer. God sometimes draws my attention to the fact that I am not really believing the prayers I pray. I am learning that it is impossible to please Him if I am not asking with confidence. Kind of a waste of His time isn't it?
Do I believe He can do what He says? The impossible? This trip to EA is going to teach me something about His power.
This trip will focus on our partners in EA, praying for them, listening to them, assisting them in planning for their upcoming work. I know God is going to teach me something powerful about prayer this year. My first response to this prayer trip was, "We can pray right here! Why would we go half way around the world to pray? Shouldn't we be working?" The immediate response to my question didn't come from me. "Am I not the One doing the work?" Wow!
I know the answer lies largely in the untapped power of believing prayer. God sometimes draws my attention to the fact that I am not really believing the prayers I pray. I am learning that it is impossible to please Him if I am not asking with confidence. Kind of a waste of His time isn't it?
Do I believe He can do what He says? The impossible? This trip to EA is going to teach me something about His power.
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